dogs in cars

peter_the_piper

We have just inherited a Staffie from my mother in law, who has just passed away. We are due to go toYorkshire in April and need to take the dog with us. As we only have a Picanto which has one of the smallest boots on the market.its a bit of a problem. I believe there are types of harnesses that are suitable for keeping a dog safely on the rear seat, does anyone have experience of these and can recommend one?

doningtonphil

Yes, there are plenty of harnesses arond that have a seatbelt clip on one end, to plug in to the seat belt plugs on the back seat.  At the other end is a clip to clip on to the ring on the collar, or preferably the harness.

However, there have been tests that have proved that stitching is not up to much on some examples, so in the event of a crash (youve seen the adverts where a human being turns in to the weight of an elephant) the strap breaks and your pet do becomes a high velocity and very 'heavy' projectile aiming for the back of the driver's head.

So chose wisely!

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/ezydog-click-dog-car-restraint-(online-exclusive)

SOmethign we have found very useful is this car seat liner made by Kong (manufacturer of the indestructible dog toys.  It is very resistant to all sorts of mud and wet dog.
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/kong-2-in-1-car-bench-seat-cover-and-hammock

Jenni_D

Not a Staffie but I have two Bichon boys, and the bigger boy is similar size to a smaller Staffie. They each wear Julius K9 harnesses (even just for walks on the lead) and in the car they are secured by "bungee" straps to the rear seatbelt plugs. This allows them some freedom of movement yet keeps them secure - and in the event of an impact (speaking from experience) the strap prevents them suffering major injuries; in my case (with only the bigger boy in the car at the time) someone rear-ended me at about 40 mph (I was near-stationary) and my boy ended up on the floor behind my driver's seat. (He had a look of confusion - how the heck did I get down here? - but he was otherwise unhurt).

UncleZen

I bought a simple dog seat belt.  It clips onto the dogs collar and the other end goes in the seatbelt socket. Its stops them moving about too much and secures them in the event of an accident

Update: harness not collar.

elsien

I wouldn’t use one clipped to the collar - wouldn’t want the dog garrotted if I did crash. Or the collar to get pulled over the head.
 I use a harness/seatbelt clip one for my bull terrier. Harness not specifically designed but is a very sturdy one. Check for a properly tested clip as above.
You need to allow a bit of room for movement as well - when my girl had a clip attached to the seatbelt and found it too constricting she ate her way through the seatbelt - took her less than a minute. 
I also find a back seat hammock invaluable / keeps the seat clean and also adds another barrier if needed. 

ontheroad1970

It will need to be strong - staffs are strong stubborn (but adorable) dogs.  

Norman_Castle

UncleZen said:

I bought a simple dog seat belt.  It clips onto the dogs collar and the other end goes in the seatbelt socket. Its stops them moving about too much and secures them in the event of an accident

Have you never wondered what would happen in an accident?

Jenni_D

UncleZen said:

I bought a simple dog seat belt.  It clips onto the dogs collar and the other end goes in the seatbelt socket. Its stops them moving about too much and secures them in the event of an accident

I pity your dog ... in the event of an accident it'll be killed or severely injured.

Spies

Once I realised that the crumple zone of a car includes the boot, I will never put my dog in the boot of the car ever again. 

facade

I've got a chest harness with RAC on it for my staffie.

The regular seatbelt threads through a big flat loop, and keeps her somewhere near the back seat.

The trouble with staffies is their head is the same size as their neck, and their chest is huge, so to escape, they simply wriggle backwards until there is some strain on the harness, then use their back legs to push it off over their head*.

The previous staffie would be out of the harness and trying to squeeze into the front within a mile, unless someone sat in the back next to her.

The current one doesn't mind the harness, as we've used it for a few walks as well as rides in the car, I'd suggest walking the dog in it a few times before trying to imprison it in the back, and try a few short trips to a park to give it the idea that the car is fun.

(* the current staffie will escape a collar and lead by quickly stepping back, then lunging forward and swinging round so the collar just pulls over her head as the lead goes tight and she is away.)

Jenni_D

The Julius K9 harness goes over the head and then fixes via a strap that goes under the chest but behind the front legs. Here's an example that is a Staffie (unless I'm mistaken?):